| | | | |  | | By Jason Beeferman | | Presented by |  | | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul is emphasizing her focus on affordability before the likely return of congestion pricing. | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul | BRACE FOR IMPACT: Standing behind a podium prominently displaying the words “More Money → Your Pockets,” the governor had a message for New Yorkers. “I'm not just listening, I'm taking action,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said today, referencing “the struggles, the challenges” New Yorkers are facing economically. “Today we’re here to offer some basic relief,” she continued. That, along with the boldly lettered poster next to her stating “New York is here to help,” might lead an observer to believe the governor actually had an action to announce around affordability. That observer would be wrong. Hochul made a point today to send a message that she understands New Yorkers’ affordability concerns — right before a costly toll is set to rain down on hundreds of thousands of her constituents. The governor had initially halted the controversial congestion pricing plan in June, incidentally, out of concern it presented an economic burden for working-class New Yorkers and diner patrons. Today she all but confirmed rumors congestion pricing is coming back at a lower price: “We’ll be making some announcements in the near future as to what is going to transpire with respect to congestion pricing,” Hochul said, four days after POLITICO broke the news. “I understand the impatience, but I said we'll have this resolved and publicly announced,” she added. The confirmation came amid another affordability push from Hochul— this time with a program she has little involvement in. It also comes as her fellow Democrats nationally are grappling with losses across the board in an election in which pocketbook issues ranked a leading concern. Republicans outmaneuvered them on that issue, picking up working-class voters of all races. Touting her record on affordability, Hochul listed a slew of programs the her administration had pushed: billions in tax cuts for lower-income New Yorkers, assistance for seniors, childcare funding, tax credits to help with back-to-school shopping and other programs. “I don’t know how you look at that list and conclude this governor isn’t doing everything in her power and more to ensure we improve affordability,” she said. Referencing the congestion pricing plan, Hochul said she will be proud to bring back the toll at a lower price: “New Yorkers who were planning for a $15 increase will be very happy that this governor stood up and says it is not $15 dollars.” — Jason Beeferman
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | | |  A bipartisan coalition of elected officials gathered on Staten Island to reiterate their opposition to the congestion pricing plan. | Emily Ngo/POLITICO | CONGESTION PRICING'S WORST ENEMIES: A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers representing areas around Manhattan insisted earlier today that their constituents could not stomach a congestion pricing toll of any amount, gathering on Staten Island to renew their opposition amid Hochul’s planned revival of the scheme. GOP Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Mike Lawler said they spoke to President-elect Donald Trump about congestion pricing, and Malliotakis predicted that the plan would be dead for good if opponents could continue to delay it until Trump takes office. Joined by Democratic state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and others, they called congestion pricing unfair to commuters already priced out of Manhattan and forced to rely on car travel because of patchy public transit. Some insisted Hochul and the state could find revenue for the MTA through a closer examination of the budget — and by yanking funding for migrants. Congestion pricing is expected to raise $1 billion each year for the MTA and unlock $15 billion in loans. “There is no way we will allow you to move forward with congestion pricing without a fight,” Malliotakis said in a message to Hochul. But Hochul said she knows both what New Yorkers can afford amid inflation and what the MTA needs to remain the “lifeblood” of the metropolitan area. “And when I know that something is too expensive for them, I will endure the lawsuits, the ads, the criticism because I believe that we need to start listening to our constituents,” she told reporters today. “It was too much.” — Emily Ngo | | | | The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get Inside Congress delivered daily to follow the final sprint of dealmaking on defense funding, AI regulation and disaster aid. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | FROM CITY HALL | | | | 
New York City Mayor Eric Adams remains critical of the Biden administration's handling of the migrant crisis. | Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office | IMMIGRATION LATEST: Mayor Eric Adams kept up his criticism of President Joe Biden today, dinging the outgoing Democrat’s lack of action on immigration. At the same time, the Republican-friendly Democratic mayor expressed hope that newly announced Trump appointees like border czar Tom Homan will be more receptive to the plight of big cities. “I am willing to sit down with this administration like I tried to sit down with the previous administration in my 10 trips to Washington to say: we have a problem that is overrunning our cities,” Adams said at his weekly press briefing. “I’m hoping this administration will hear what I’m saying and listen to some of the ideas that I have been pushing for … close to two years now.” Adams went on to say he tried to warn national Dems about their weakness on the issue — something he said he has done before — though the mayor’s standing in the party has hit rock bottom owing to his critiques of the White House and his indictment on federal criminal charges. “When I talked about public safety in 2021, it was ignored. When I talked about migrants and asylum seekers in 2023, it was ignored,” he said. “[In] 2021 the top of the issues? Public safety. [In] 2023 the top of the issues with voters? Immigration.” Adams distanced himself from the more drastic measures being contemplated by the incoming Trump administration. But he had to be asked repeatedly before denouncing mass deportations and did not offer any specifics about how the city might counteract a more aggressive ICE. That reticence did not go over well with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “The mayor’s sanctimonious claims in the wake of his preferred choice’s — Donald Trump’s — victory would be absurd if they weren’t so angering,” Williams said in a statement. — Joe Anuta | | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | DOWN BALLOT | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked today if she has a message for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after Democrats’ House victories in New York. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | TAKE THAT, NANCY!: Hochul finally cast some shade toward former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — albeit, some mild shade. “We’re counting on California,” Hochul said, referencing the outstanding House races in Pelosi’s home state, where votes are still being counted. Though not all races have been called, Democrats are unlikely to win control of the House nationally. Republicans are likely to win most of California's battleground seats, but in New York, three House seats flipped blue. The wins for New York Democrats come after the Hochul-led state party has focused on beefing up its down-ballot campaign operations over the past year. The governor’s remarks come after sharp criticism over the summer from Pelosi — one of Washington’s fiercest power brokers who has been compared to the ‘Godfather’ as she deftly wielded power behind the scenes. Repeatedly, Pelosi blamed the loss of Democrats’ control of congress on Hochul, arguing her relatively poor showing at the top of the ticket (she won by a meager 6 points) was a drag on down-ballot Democrats. That year, four House seats in New York flipped red. But Pelosi’s blame for Hochul ignored the fact that California, the Speaker emeritus’ home state, lost crucial House seats that year, also contributing to Democrats’ loss of the House. “I’m proud of what we did here in New York,” Hochul also said. “Five out of seven wins in our swing districts. Defying the national odds. We worked hard, we had good candidates, we ran on the issues. That’s how you win” — Jason Beeferman
| | | | Policy change is coming—be the pro who saw it first. Access POLITICO Pro’s Issue Analysis series on what the transition means for agriculture, defense, health care, tech, and more. Strengthen your strategy. | | | | | | | | On the Beats | | PENN STATION FUNDING: The Biden administration is awarding $72 million to help with the ongoing renovation of Penn Station, according to Senate Majority Leader (soon to be Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer’s office. The final allocation from the Department of Transportation, first reported here, aims to boost a renovation to make the station more pleasant, accessible and easier to navigate. “Renovating the overcrowded, cramped and confusing Penn Station will help usher New York, the LIRR and the region into an even brighter transit future,” Schumer said in a statement. “We need to ensure more accessibility, including making it easier to navigate — a redesign that delivers for commuters from Long Island, the five boroughs and beyond.” The upgrades are also a priority for Hochul. About $24 million in local matching funds for this phase of the renovation will come from New York, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak, which are continuing to benefit from a generous federal match thanks to Biden’s administration and Schumer. — Ry Rivard
| | AROUND NEW YORK | | — LOST IN TRANSLATION: New York City voting sites severely lacked language interpreters, especially in communities with high numbers of Asian voters. (Documented) — BETTING ON SCHUMER: The Greater New York Hospital Association bet big on New York’s senior state Senator, but so far the wager hasn’t paid off. (Crain’s New York) — NO MORE BROKER FEES: The bill to ban broker fees is slated to pass the City Council. (THE CITY) Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here . | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
